Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Lethal.
That was the only way to describe Greer’s current state. A mixture of gut-wrenching pain and unbridled anger. The kind that either ended in an all-out brawl or a tumble between the sheets. Opposite sides of the same coin.
Not that Chase had been unaffected. But for the first time since finding Rhett, he’d been able to see the situation through Greer’s eyes. How each new victim stole a bit more of her soul. Sucked more light from her eyes.
Her fists tightened around his shirt, tugging him that last quarter inch until his mouth crushed down over hers, his fingers slipping into her hair. She moaned, stepping into him as she slid her hands up and over his shoulders, locking them behind his head.
Chase held her close, backing them up until they hit a wall. He pressed her against it, used the position to ravage her mouth before kissing his way down her neck — nipping at her pulse point. Her breath hitched, her head tilting to one side before she grabbed his hoodie, yanked it over his head.
A flash of blue, then the hoodie hit the floor, puddling at his feet as he returned the favor — tossed hers somewhere off to their left. She paused for a moment, bottom lip snagged between her teeth, chest heaving before she launched into his arms — claimed his mouth.
He gathered her in his arms, then started moving, bouncing his way down the hallway, leaving a trail of scrubs. He kicked open his bedroom door, stepped inside, then turned and pinned her to the wall.
Greer didn’t give him a chance to breathe before she had his pants down around his ankles, his boxers hugging his knees. She palmed his chest, skimming her hands along his ribs, then over his shoulders. Looking as if she wanted to climb her way up his torso.
A tug of the drawstring at her waist and her pants dropped to the floor. A heap of blue against the brown hardwood. She’d forgone any underwear, nothing but soft, pale skin gleaming in the hint of moonlight spilling through the windows.
Her muscles jumped as he smoothed his hand over her hip and across her ribs, brushing the side of her breast then back along her jaw, burying his fingers in her mass of auburn hair. The silky strands tickled his palm, and he knew he could spend a lifetime staring down at her like this.
Eyes heavy lidded.
Skin flushed a light pink.
She shivered, though he wasn’t sure if it was from the river or his touch. If she was half as wrecked as he was.
A smile, then she wrapped one leg around his back, used his shoulders to lever up — rest her elbows next to his head. Just a rim of green visible, those gorgeous eyes searching his.
He scooped her up, hands positioned under her ass, his sheer size pinning her to the wall. She held his gaze, nostrils flaring, breath panting past his cheek before he settled between her thighs — slowly eased inside.
She inhaled as her head fell back, exposing the long, sleek line of her neck. He mouthed her skin, licking and tasting, pressing forward until he bottomed out. Her breath left her on a moan, his name whispering in the space between them.
Chase fisted her hair, kept her face level with his as he inched back, stopped just shy of slipping free. That razor’s edge between not enough and all-in. Greer tugged him closer, resting her forehead on his as he reclaimed every inch, the force jostling her against the wall.
“God, Chase.”
That set him off.
Had him starting up a punishing rhythm. In. Out. Faster. Deeper. Angling her hips until she started chanting his name. Scratching at his scalp as she anchored her fingers in his hair.
Her breathing kicked up, her heart pounding in sync with his as he hit that sweet spot — damn near finished on the spot.
She tensed, nails digging into his muscles, body shaking before her eyes rolled back, her mouth opening in a soundless scream. He kept moving, fighting the fire burning beneath his flesh. All the heat they’d been building over the past several months sparking to life. Dragging him under.
He lasted maybe three more minutes before the coil snapped, and everything went supernova. A blinding white light that left him gasping for air. His forehead resting against the wall, every ragged breath drawing in more of her.
Greer clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder, her arms locked around his neck. A few tremors shivered through her — he just wasn’t sure if it was from the hypothermia or the sex.
The thought lifted some of the euphoric haze — allowed him to take stock.
How he hadn’t even fully stripped, his boxers still hanging at his knees, one leg of the scrubs wrapped around his ankle.
He hadn’t even thought about protection, though, that didn’t worry him nearly as much as he would have imagined.
Greer sighed, the soft sound jacking up his protective instincts. He eased back, her legs still snugged around his hips, her fingers anchored in his hair. She blew out a shaky breath, finally pulling away enough to look him in the eyes.
He smiled, dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “God, you’re beautiful.”
That earned him a small tilt of her mouth. Not quite a smile, but he’d take whatever he could get considering the circumstances.
He brushed back a few errant strands. “You, okay?”
Her chin quivered, like in the restaurant. “Jury’s still out.”
The next round of shivers got him moving. He managed to kick out of his clothes, then carried her into the bathroom. He twisted on the taps, grabbed some towels, then ushered her under the warm spray. He didn’t talk, just stepped inside, took her in his arms.
Greer melted against him, seemingly content to simply stand there, water cascading over them, the weight of their combined guilt adding to the steamy air.
He pulled her close, his chin resting on her head as he drew lazy patterns across her back.
Time stopped, nothing registering beyond the patter of the shower, how her heartbeat matched his.
He managed to give them both a quick wash before stepping out — wrapping her in one of the thick towels, then heading back to the bedroom. He placed her on the edge of his bed, going to his knees in front. Tucking her wet locks behind her ear. “I swear your lips are still blue.”
She shrugged, looking as if she wanted to say something before closing her eyes — pushing out a shaky breath.
He cupped her jaw, waiting until she finally met his gaze. “Whatever you need, if I can swing it…”
She smiled, traced her thumb along his jaw. “I…” She swallowed, coughed, then leaned in. “I just need you.”
He kissed her palm. “I can manage that. You want the left or the right side?”
She snagged her lip, inhaling before getting lover-close. “I don’t want to sleep. Not yet.”
He nodded, dropped a kiss on her mouth. “Then, let’s get you comfortable. This could take a while.”
Greer stared up at Chase, her heart thundering against her ribs, her pulse somewhere in the triple digits. The man was breathtaking. From his Hollywood good looks to his boyish charm, he’d stolen her heart from the moment they’d met, and she doubted she’d ever get it back.
Chase tilted his head, grinning as if he knew she was hopelessly in love with him. That if he hadn’t stepped up tonight, she would have spiraled. Lost herself in that darkness.
Images played in her head. White mist rising off black water. Blue lights strobing against the fog. Eli’s bloody hand gripping her shirt. His blood sinking into the dirt.
A tsk, then Chase had her in his arms, looming over her as he took her back on the mattress. “I’m not going to let him hurt you.”
She palmed his cheeks, staring into his hazel eyes, wondering if she’d ever loved anyone this much. Trusted someone with more than her life. “Love me.”
He smiled, the simple tilt of his lips kicking up her pulse, until it thundered inside her head as he tugged the towel free. “That’s a given. But I’m not above showing you, again.”
He moved slowly, helping her scoot to the middle of the bed, fanning her hair out around her. His skin gleamed in the muted moonlight, his muscles flexing as he went to his elbows, looking at her as if she held the answers. Or maybe just his heart.
She smoothed her hands along his chest, frowning at the purple patch smeared across his ribs. “Is this from that round you took protecting me from the flash bang?”
He sighed. “It’s nothing.”
“It looks like a slash of death. God, Chase…”
He lowered until his chest compressed hers, his mouth no more than a breath away. “There’s no limit to what I’d do to protect you. You know that, right? No risk too great, no sacrifice too big.”
“I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself for me.”
A shrug. “I know.”
“How about we both just focus on living?”
“Amen to that. I just needed you to know…” He dipped down, nuzzled her nose. “There’s no future without you in it.”
She inhaled, his words slowly sinking in. Easing the emptiness that had taken root after Troy’s death. Filling the spaces she hadn’t realized were there.
He kissed her.
Soft.
Coaxing.
The exact opposite to their no-holds-barred sex against the wall. When she’d needed something raw. Primal. An escape from the pain and guilt. Unlike now, where every brush of his hand, every press of his lips, acted as an anchor. A tangible link that grounded her to this moment.
To him.
Chase shifted to her neck, arching her against him as he moved down to her shoulder, sucking at her pulse point until she thought she’d scream — every inch of her hyperaware. Like having her senses dialed up to eleven.
He smiled against her skin, teasing her with barely-there caresses before wrapping her legs around his hips — slowly sinking inside.
Forever.
That’s what this felt like.
Lying there, completely entwined, his breath feathering across her neck, his skin heating hers, she couldn’t imagine going back to longing glances over dinner. Nights alone in her bed, dreaming of this moment.
She wanted more.